Bathtub



April 6, 1937. s. FRIEDLANDER BATHTUB Filed July. 7, l1936 II'II'I'I'IIIA- 4.

Patented Apr. 6, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BATHTUB Samuel Friedlander, Memphis, Tenn. Application July 7, 1936, Serial No. 89,437

3 Claims.

'I'his invention relates to bath tub construction,

the primary object of the invention being to provide a tub especially designed for use by invalids, crippled persons or elderly people who experience diiiculty in using the ordinary bath tub.

An important object of the invention is to provide a tub so constructed that a person may enter the tub or pass out of the tub through an opening in the side of the tub without the necessity of the person stepping over the edge of the tub, thereby greatly reducing the chance of the person slipping and receiving bodily injury.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tub having an opening in the side thereof, and having a closure for closing the opening, the closure being of a novel construction to provide a runway to the entrance of the tub for the convenience of the person using the tub.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bath tub constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmental sectional view through the closure, forming a part of the side of the tub.

Figure 3 is a fragmental view illustrating the inner side of the closure in'elevation.

Figure 4 is a fragmental horizontal view through the tub and closure.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the body portion of the tub is indicated by the reference character 5, and as shown, the body 5 is provided with a cut out portion formed in the side thereof, and disposed at a point substantially intermediate the ends of the tub, however it is to be understood that the location of the cut out portion or opening may be at any desirable point, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

This cut out portion extends from the upper edge of the tub to a point near the bottom thereof, so that a person may enter the tub or pass out of the tub without the necessity of stepping over the edge of the tub.

In the present showing, the cut out portion or opening is closed by means of the hinged closure 6, which is provided with marginal offset flanges 1, adapted to move against the outer surface of ter 8, for providing a water-tight connection be-k tween the closure and body portion of the tub'.

.The hinges that connect the closure 6 to thev body portion ofthe erence character 9 and are of such construction that the closure 6 will be permitted to swing downwardly to a position as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2 of the drawing, providing a runway over which a person using the tub may pass. In order to insure against a personslipping while passing over the runway, the inner surface of the closure 6 is formed with transverse ribs I0, as clearly shown by Figure 3 of the drawing.

Fasteners l I are carried by the closure and include fingers l2 mountedon the inner ends oi the fasteners, the fingers I2 being adapted to move to positions to engage the inner surface of the tub adjacent to the cut out portion of the tub as shown by Figure 4 of the drawing. These fasteners normally secure the closure in its active or closed position, but at the same time actto draw the closure into close engagement with the the tub at the edge of the cut away portion or body of the tub to prevent water from leaking from the tub at the point of connection between the closure and tub.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that due to the construction shown and described, the closure may be swung downwardly to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 2 of the drawing, whereupon an invalid or crippled `person may readily pass into the tub without the necessity of stepping over the edge of the tub.

After the person has entered the' tub, the closure will then be closed and the fastener tightened. Water may then be admitted to the tub.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a bath tub construction, a body having an opening in the wall thereof, a hinged closure adapted to close the opening, means ,for securing the closure in its closed position and said closure adapted to swing downwardly to engage the floor surface, providing a runway to the tub.

2. In a tub, a body portion having an opening formed in the side wall thereof, said opening providing an entrance opening to the tub, a closure adapted to normally close the opening, said clo sure adapted to swing downwardly to contact with the floor surface, providing a runway to the tub, the inner surface of the closure being ribbed, providing an anti-slip surface.

3. In a bath tub. a body portion, said body portion having an opening in the side thereof extending from the upper edge of the tub to a point near the bottom thereof, a closure hingedly connected to the lower edge of the opening and adapted tol swing outwardly from the tub, providing a runway, and means for securing the closure in its closed position.

SAMUEL FRIEDLANDER.

tub are indicated by the ref-k 

